Handel’s Messiah
About This Event
Jane Glover leads Handel’s Messiah at David Geffen Hall with soprano Amanda Forsythe, countertenor John Holiday, tenor Nicholas Phan, bass-baritone Kevin Deas, and the Music of the Baroque Chorus under Andrew Megill. Glover’s opera and orchestral experience, Forsythe’s Baroque specialization, Holiday’s clean, text-focused singing and the chorus’s historically informed precision result in a reading that emphasizes Handel’s rhetorical pacing and clear delivery of the text.
About Messiah(oratorio)
George Frideric Handel
Handel’s *Messiah* (1741) is an English-language oratorio that sets biblical passages on prophecy, the Nativity, Passion, and resurrection, shaped into a three-part meditation rather than staged drama. In New York, it has long functioned as a civic ritual of winter concert life, sustained by the city’s choral societies and major halls even without a single definitive local “premiere” story. At David Geffen Hall, Jane Glover leads a period-leaning account with the Music of the Baroque Chorus directed by Andrew Megill and soloists Amanda Forsythe, John Holiday, and Nicholas Phan. The clearest strength of this work is its architecture: public chorus, private reflection, and communal memory held in balance.
About the Artists
Music of the Baroque Chorus Andrew Megill, director
Music of the Baroque Chorus, led by director Andrew Megill, is a classical ensemble known for its work in the Baroque choral tradition. In New York City, the chorus appears at David Geffen Hall in programs such as Handel’s *Messiah*.
Jane Glover
Jane Glover is a British conductor known for her work in opera and orchestral music, with a focus on both classical and contemporary repertoire.
Amanda Forsythe
Amanda Forsythe is an American soprano celebrated for her work in opera, particularly in Baroque and classical repertoire.
John Holiday
John Holiday is an American countertenor whose work moves between Baroque repertory and new music, in staged opera, concert settings, and mixed-media projects. He has appeared with ensembles and conductors including Music of the Baroque, Handel, and Jane Glover, and has shared the stage with artists such as Amanda Forsythe, Nicholas Phan, and Kevin Deas.
Nicholas Phan
Nicholas Phan is an American tenor known for his performances in opera and concert settings, specializing in a wide range of repertoire from classical to contemporary works.
Kevin Deas
Kevin Deas is an American bass-baritone known for his performances in opera, concert, and recital settings, recognized for his rich voice and versatility in various musical genres.